by dcfarcus

Bring Better Followers to Your Shadowdark Campaign

06/13/2026

I’m excited to announce the release of my newest Shadowdark RPG supplement, Followers in Darkness, now available on DriveThruRPG!

Followers have always been part of fantasy adventuring. Torchbearers, mercenaries, guides, squires, and loyal companions help brave the dangers of the dark alongside the party. Too often, however, these characters become little more than extra inventory slots or disposable NPCs.

Followers in Darkness expands the role of followers in your campaign, providing tools to create memorable companions who can grow alongside the adventurers and become part of the story.

What’s Inside?

Hirelings, Henchmen, and Retainers

Followers are divided into three distinct categories, each with their own expectations, costs, and levels of commitment.

  • Hirelings are common workers willing to brave danger for coin.
  • Henchmen are aspiring adventurers who can accompany the party into the dark.
  • Retainers are experienced and trusted companions who have proven themselves through loyalty and survival.

Quick Follower Generation

Create followers in minutes using random tables for:

  • Ancestry
  • Names
  • Personality Traits
  • Quirks
  • Fears
  • Desires
  • Secrets

With just a few rolls, a simple NPC can become a follower your players actually remember.

Finding Followers

The supplement includes rules for determining what followers are available in a settlement. Small villages may only offer a handful of laborers, while larger towns and cities provide access to experienced retainers and skilled specialists.

Follower Professions

Henchmen and retainers can be generated from several professions, including:

  • Aspiring Wizard
  • Acolyte
  • Burglar
  • Cutpurse
  • Soldier
  • Guard
  • Archer
  • Veteran

Each profession includes unique abilities, equipment, and roleplaying opportunities.

Loyalty and Advancement

Loyalty is not given—it is earned.

How adventurers treat their followers matters. Protect them, pay them fairly, and bring them home alive, and they may remain loyal through countless dangers.

Followers can also grow over time. A frightened hireling may become a trusted henchman, while a seasoned henchman may eventually rise to the status of retainer. Rules are included for follower advancement based on loyalty, survival, and party interactions.

Morale Systems

Followers in Darkness introduces morale systems for both followers and monsters.

The supplement provides guidance for assigning morale based on creature characteristics as well as rules for converting morale values from classic OSR games such as BECMI Dungeons & Dragons and Basic Fantasy RPG.

Character Sheets and Tools

Dedicated sheets for hirelings, henchmen, and retainers make it easy to track equipment, loyalty, morale, and advancement throughout a campaign.

Watch the Overview Video

Want a closer look at the supplement?

Watch the overview video here:

Available Now on DriveThruRPG

Followers in Darkness is available now on DriveThruRPG.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/571378/followers-in-darkness

Thank you to everyone who has supported Tabletop Thoughts and my previous Shadowdark releases. I hope Followers in Darkness helps bring memorable companions, loyal allies, and a few tragic stories to your table.

Keep on gaming!

2026 Goals Progress

  • Minis Painted: 215/150 – COMPLETED
  • Large Models / Terrain: 21/ 6 – COMPLETE
  • YouTube Videos:13/ 24
  • Game Reviews: 5 / 4 – COMPLETED
  • Games Played (TTRPG + Board Games): 0 / 4
  • Thursday Drop-Ins Created: 5 / 12
  • New TTRPG Systems Tried: 0 / 3
  • Shadowdark Mini-Campaign Sessions: 0 / 3
  • Shadowdark Release on DriveThruRPG: 1/ 1 – COMPLETE

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